Sulfamic acid smoke mixture



- 2,842,502 7 SULFAMIC ACID SMOKE MIXTURE, Sidney J. Magi-am, Baltimore, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of y tulte bu ned very rapidly, the reaction was self sustaining, wing. Application October 3 1956 and a great q t y f moke was produced. Amixture Serial No. 613,795v Comprising 50% sulfamic acid and 50% potassium I V Claims. (CL 252 305) chlorate is suitable but gave a slightly less dense'cloud of I smoke. H

(Granted-under Title U. s- Code (1952) 266) Ammonium perchlorate was. also found, to be a suitable The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States ice '. suitable oxidizing agent for the purpose desired. The

preferred composition was found tocompn'se 65% sulf amic acid-and 33% potassium perchlorate, This mixoxidizing agent. TableII best illustrates the use of ammonium perchlorate. 7

Table 11 Weight of Residue, i Example Sample, Composition ot samplef grams Results grams 587 Sulfamic acid Very rapid self-sustaining reaction. 50 {42% Ammonium perchlorate. 0 Velrg copiiifus olguid of smoke. t;

507 Sulfamic acid up se -sus a nmg reac ion. 50 3 Ammonium perchloratenfl 9.0 tlSlightly less smoke than Example 50 65% Sulfamic acid {Slow self-sustaining reaction. Less 35% Ammonium perchlorate smoke than Example 2. 50 {80% Sulfamic acid {Very slow self-sustaining reaction. Ammonium perchlorat Small amount of smokev produced. 50 Sulfamic acid {Reaction not self-sustaining. No

65% Amminium perchlorate smoke produced. V

of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to smoke producing mixture and in particular to a smoke producing mixture containing sulfamic acid. I I Mixtures capable of producing large amounts of smoke find many uses during wartime such as screening movements from the enemy. To ensure suflicient screening the smoke producing mixture must be stable, and capable of reproducible properties, and of tity of smoke. Sulfamic acid is a stable compound and when mixed with a suitable oxidizing agent and ignited, a self-sustaining reaction occurs producing enough heat to vaporize the sulfur trioxide from the sulfamic acid, thereby resulting in a large cloud of smoke. With oxidizing agents which contain chlorine, such as the perchlorates, hydrogen chloride is produced which adds to the cloud of smoke. The smoke is formed by the S0 and HCl absorbing moisture from the air with the formation of minute droplets.

found to be suitable oxidizing agents for producing a smoke cloud.

' Table I best illustrates the use of potassium perchlorate.

producing a large quanchloride is also produced and addsto the amount of smoke produced. The mixture comprising 58% sulfamic acid and 42% ammonium perchlorate is preferred over that comprising 65% sulfamic acid and 35% potassium perchlorate as this mixture gave a more copious cloud of smoke per unit weight while leaving a small'residue.

Sodium perchlorate was used as the oxidizing agent but the reaction would not proceed and no smoke was produced.

Potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate were used as oxidizing agents. Table III best shows the results of these compounds. Again ignition was accomplished by use of a hot Nichrome wire. I

I It is an object of this invention to provide a reproduci- Table ble smoke producing mixture of stable chemicals. I ht f I It is also an object of this invention to provide a mix- Example ggfi f Composition gamma Results ture, which when ignited, burns to produce a great quangrams tity of smoke. V I Several mixtures of sulfamic acid (NH SO H) and an 1 50 s u mi ac1d H i e gg oxidizing agent were prepared and ignited by a hot Ni- 60% Ammmmm produced; chrome wire to pr d e a sm k cloud. 55 50 Sulfamic acid ggg ggg ggggg Potassium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate were 35% Pmssmm mime produced.

ing agents for producing a cloud of smoke.

284L502 Patented July 8, I958 Table I Weight of Residue, Example Sample, Composition of Sample grams Results grams 657 Sulfamic acid Very rapid self-sustaining reaction. A 1 50 {35% Potassium perchlorate... {Bvergilargelafmount tiislmoke ptodtulced. ta n ng reac on.

50 7 Sulfamic acid Se 2 100 {50% Potassium perchlorate-.. quantity of smoke 100 Sulfamic acid {Slow self-sustaining reaction. Small 3 20% Potassium perchlorate... amount of smoke produced.

A. 65% sulfamic acid 7 35% potassium perchlorate B. 58% sulfamic acid 42% ammonium perchlorate The latter mixture is the preferred one since it gives a smaller residue in addition to reacting rapidly and producing a larger cloud of smoke per unit weight than mixture A.

I claim:

1. A smoke producing mixture containing from 50% to 80% sulfamic acid, the remainder consisting essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of potassium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate.

2. A smoke producing mixture containing from 50% to 80% sulfamic acid, the remainder consisting essentially of potassium perchlorate.

3. A smoke producing mixture containing from 50% to 80% sulfamic acid, the remainder consisting essentially of ammonium perchlorate.

4. A smoke producing mixture consisting essentially of 65% sulfamic acid and 35% potassium perchlorate.

5. A smoke producing mixture consisting essentially of 5 8% sulfamic acid and 42% ammonium perchlorate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SMOKE PRODUCING MIXTURE CONTAINING FROM 50% TO 80% SULFAMIC ACID, THE REMAINDER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE AND AMMONIUM PERCHLORATE. 